Little Cypress Jr. High coach out of a job after accusation of inappropriate relationship with student

A Little Cypress Junior High assistant coach is no longer employed at the school after an investigation was launched regarding the educator and an improper relationship with a high school student.

Sources revealed to The Examiner the coach is 35-year-old Michael Shugart. LCJH confirms Shugart is “no longer employed with (the) school district.” His name has also been taken off of the Web site for Orange Crush Gold with whom he was a softball coach.

When contacted, Shugart said, “I can’t talk about anything without talking to my attorney first. He has advised me not to talk to anyone yet.”

According to LC-M CISD Community Relations Coordinator Sherry Combs, the teacher in question resigned. Further information suggests he had only been employed with the district for 16 days, she said.

“The teacher resigned after allegations of an improper relationship with a high school student were made,” Combs said. “The administration immediately began investigations and notified the (Orange County) sheriff’s department as well as the State Board of Educator Certification. Both entities are conducting their own investigations.”

Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sergeant Chad Hogan said the case is still in the investigation stage, and no charges have been filed at this time. The sheriff’s office has been looking into the allegations since Tuesday, Sept. 4, when investigators received a call from the administration of LC-M CISD concerning formal allegations of an Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student. The alleged incident involves a student at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School.

While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us “that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas,” we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We’re of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.